Time-controlled actuating apparatus



March 17, 1953 5. J. v. ORTENBLAD TIME-CONTROLLED ACTUATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 March 17, 1953 s. J. v. ORTENBLAD TIME-CONTROLLED ACTUATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 March 17, 1953 s. J. v. ORTENBLAD 2,632,066

TIME-CONTROLLED ACTUATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 S. J. V. ORTENBLAD TIME- CONTROLLED ACTUATING APPARATUS March 17, 1953 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 o o m. U MMEJ .7

Q IE March 17, 1953 s. J. v. ORTENBLAD CONTROLLED ACTUATING APPARATUS TIME- Filed Sept. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 r i i 5 I i 4 IIIIIIL rlllll/ Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME-CONTROLLED ACTUATING APPARATUS Sture J ohn V-erner firtenblad, Stockholm, Sweden 14 Claims.

The present invention relates to time-controlled actuatin apparatus for performing electrical switching operations of any kind, more particularly apparatus of the type comprising a rotative timing cylinder, 1. e. a cylinder which is caused to rotate in dependence upon the time, which cylinder, or at least the peripherial zone of which, consists of an electrically conducting material and has one or more contacts attached there-to in difierent positions in accordance with the timed instants of any desired switching operation, and comprising also a counter-contact so provided that the contacts of said cylinder are allowed to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

One object of the invention is to provide an actuating apparatus for opening and closing electric circuits at arbitrarily timed instants which apparatus is of a simple and reliable design and is easy to attend.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a time-controlled actuating apparatus which may be set to accomplish switching operations at certain desirable instants during a longer period of time, e. g. to allow all switching instants to be set in advance for a whole week at a time, even when different switching instants are desired for each day.

A further object of this invention is to provide an embodiment of said apparatus, which after the switching instants have been accordingly set, e. g. for one week, at the end of that week may be caused to act still a further week, or longer, at unvaried setting merely in response to the actuation of a single handle.

A feature of the invention comprises a timecontrolled actuating apparatus of the type set forth, in which the timing cylinder is provided with a number of peripherial grooves, viz. one or several such grooves, into which contact balls may be fastened iammingly in different positions along the periphery in accordance with the instants of any desired switching operation.

Another feature of the invention com rises a time-controlled actuating apparatus of the type set forth. in which the timing cylinder is provided with a plurality of parallel grooves. and contact balls may be fastened jammin ly in each such groove in positions corresponding to instant of any desirable switching o eration, whereas the counter-contact is adapted to be displaced step by step to a position opposite any of the various grooves in correspondence with the date or dav of the switching operation desired.

In accordance with this last-mentioned feature the counter-contact may be mounted on a slide which is movable in parallel with the timing cylinder, which slide is displaceable step by step by said timing cylinder dependent upon its rotation, each step corresponding to the spacing between the individual grooves.

In accordance with this feature said slide may be associated with a spring mechanism for its homing and may support a ball magazine and a ball feeding assembly adapted to force balls into the grooves of said timing cylinder.

The time-controlled actuating apparatus according to this invention may be designed either as a self-contained actuating equipment incorporating a connecting cable length for connection to a wall socket and also an outlet contact socket into which may be plugged-in the connecting cord of a machine or apparatus to be controlled, e. g. a radio receiver, electric heater, instrument or the like, or even be assembled to one unit with a controlled apparatus, particularly in cases that such apparatus is a radio set.

The foregoing and further objects and features of the invention will appear readily from the following description of one exemplary embodiment of an actuating apparatus according to this invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1-12 illustrate an actuating apparatus according to the invention, which is designed as a self-contained actuating equipment and intended to perform connection and disconnection of another apparatus at recurrent instants in the course of one week.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view as seen from the front, Fig. 2 is an elevational rear view, and Fig. 3 is a side view as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows III in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 show two horizontal sections taken substantially on the lines IV-IV and V-V, respectively, of Fig. 2 (see also Fig. 1), while Fig. 6 is a vertical section substantially taken on the line VIVI oi Fi 4.

Fig. '7 shows a vertical section along the line VIIVII of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 illustrates a vertical section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the line IXIX of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 shows a partial section taken on the line X--X of Fig. 9, While Fig. 11 is a partial section taken on the line XI-XI of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the means for automatically disconnecting the controlled apparatus at the end of a certain adjustable period of time.

Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram for the actuating apparatus shown in Figs. 1-12.

Fig. 14. is perspective view on a reduced scale 3 of a radio set which is combined in a single unit with an actuating apparatus according to this invention as illustrated in Figs. 1-13.

The actuating apparatus shown in Figs. 1-12 is provided with a housing in form of a rectangular box I. The elevational view in Fig. 1 may be regarded as the front, while the elevation according to Fig. 2 is the rear. The essential parts of the actuating apparatus are mounted on a substantially LI-shaped frame 2 of sheet-metal, to which is attached a supporting member 3, likewise of metal, as clearly shown particularly Fig. 4. Members 2 and it constitute a rack which in combination with the actuating equipment parts mounted thereon is inserted into the box I from its rear, and then the rear wall is screwed on to the box.

The rear wall i has a circular aperture. for the timing cylinder rotatively mounted on a shaft 6, in turn rotatively supportedv in the men ber 3. A clock-work i, which conveniently may be equipped with a dial 3 and pointers ii visible through a circular opening in the front wall of the box, so that this assembly simultaneously may serve as a clock, is located between the supporting member 3 and the portion of the frame 2 adjacent the front wall of the box. The drive spindle ill which projects through the rear flange of the clock-work i should be geared to the speed of the hour-hand, said spindle being coaxially aligned with the shaft 5 and coupled therewith, so that said shaft is driven at the same speed as the hour-hand.

The timing cylinder 5 supports a securely mounted rotary knob ll of insulating material. The rearwards turned side of the rotary knob i I has a recess I2 in which is disposed a frictional coupling between the shaft t and the timing cylinder 5. This frictional coupling is made of a curved leaf spring it with a central opening through which the shaft B freely projects, said spring being strained between a collar head If! at the end of shaft 5, on the one hand, and the end surface of the timing cylinder 5 on the other hand. Such frictional coupling transfers torque from the hour-hand spindle it through the shaft B to the timing cylinder 5, but no rotation from the rotary knob H and the timing cylinder 5 to said shaft 6. The timing cylinder '5 may thus .be turned by means of the knob ll without affecting-the clock-work. A clock dial scale (graduated for 12 hours) is fixed on the rotary knob ll, while an index it is attached to the stationary rear wall 3 adjacent the peripherial rim of said rotary knob, or vice versa.

The timing cylinder consists of an electrically conducting material; aluminium is preferred, although also copper or iron may be used. The timing cylinder is provided with a plurality of peripherial grooves 2d, that is, one groove for each 12-hour time interval, hence, a total of fourteen grooves, since the actuating apparatus set forth herein is intended to be set for accomplishing switching operations during a whole week at a time. Contact balls 2|, suitably of steel, are adapted to be jammed into the grooves 29 in positions dependent upon .the instant at which the desired switching operation shall take place. some such balls 2!, fixed by jamming, are shown in Figs. 4. and 6, and an arbitrary number of balls 2i may be fastened by jamming in each groove 2c as required. It may be mentioned by way of an example relating to the rela" tive dimensions of the grooves 20 and the balls 2!, that in conjunction with a ball diameter of with a latch member 33.

3 millimeters, a groove width of 2.95 millimeters, a groove depth of 1.75 millimeters and a partition width of .55 millimeter between adjacent grooves have proved satisfactory.

The counter-contact 22 which co-operates with the balls j-ammingly fixed on the timing cylinder is mounted on a slide 23 which is movable in parallel with the timing cylinder and which slides on a transverse beam 2 3 of U-shap-ed cross section fixed in the frame 2; see particularly Figs. 4, 6 and 8. The counter-contact is made of a leaf spring 212, the one end of which is fixed on the slide 23 consisting of a plastic, while its taperedend 22 is bent in a direction towards a point on the timing cylinder located immediately above the horizontal central plane through the timing cylinder. The end of the leaf spring 22 pointing towards the timing cylinder is provided with an inclined surface 22" which co-operates with a set screw 26 for so adjusting the contaotpoint 2 2' ertically, thaat the contact closingoperation, if desired, may be timed to take place a sho rt moment earlier (or later) than the instant to which the timing cylinder actually has been set.

Displacement of the slide 23 is achieved by the timing cylinder during its rotation. To this end the surface of the slide facing th-e timing cylinder is provided with a group of inclined laminae 23, the number of which corresponds to the number of grooves '26 in the timing cylinder, which latter carries a radially projecting pin 29 which is adapted to co-operat-e with the laminae 28 one after the other and to advance the slide 23 one step in response to each revolution of .the timing cylinder. The pin 29 is fixed in a position near the innermost end. of the timing cylinder (at the upper end according to Fig. l), while the slide 23 has its initial position at-the upper end of Fig. i (to the left in Fig. 8). The timing cylinder is driven by the clock-work in the direction indicated by the arrow P in Fig. '6. During each revolution of the timing cylinder the pin 25 is caused to pass along one lamina :28 (along the left lamina edge in Fig. 8), whereby the slide 23 is forced to the right in' Fig. 8, i. e. towardsthe rear of the actuating apparatus, due to the resulting wedge-effect.

When the slide 23 after one week and intresponse to the-action of the timing cylinder has been advanced to the position shown in Figs. '8 and 9, its automatic homing is required. To this end a resetting rod 31 is provided, which extends inside the transverse U-shaped beam 2d, from the front of the actuating apparatus, where it carries an actuating knob, (push-button) 3&2 projecting through the front wall, to the rear of said apparatus, where said rod is formed with "a first projection 3 i for imparting homing motion to the slide and also with a second projection 3 i for hooking the resetting rod 3| in engagement The end of the resetting rod 3! adjacent the rear of the actuating apparatus is bent back in the direction towards the front of the actuating apparatus so as to form a hook for a tension spring 34, the opposite end of which is dried in the frame 2 adjacent the front wall of the apparatus. The latch member 33 consists of a spring of a shape similar to that of a hair-pin, the upper leg of which is fixed in the transverse beam 2d, while its lower leg engages downwardsopen recesses in the lower edges of thetransverse beam 2- 3 (see Figs. 8, Q and i1). Theresetting rod 3! may thus be pressed'inwards for one week at a time byimeans or the push-button 32, thereby tensioning -the're storing spring 34. The rod 3| is then by means of its deten-t 3|" hook-ed in engagement with the lower leg of the latch member 33, and the end of said rod rests in an aperture in the rear of fram 2.

The slide 23 supports a release lever 36 (Figs. 6 and 8) for the resetting rod 3|, which lever is located under the slide and pivot-ally mounted at 3'1. Paid lever 36 carries an arm 35 which moves in over the lower leg of the latch member 33 when the slide approaches its extreme right position in Figs. 8 and 9. The opposite arm of release lever 36 is provided with a projection 38 which is actuated by the pin 29 at the innermost end of the timing cylinder when the slide occupies the last mentioned position. It is understood that the timing cylinder makes one revolution after the pin 29 has engaged the last lamina 28 and that the engagement between pin 29 and projection 38 occurs at the end of said last revolution. The lower leg of latch member 33 is accordingly urged down and out of engagement with the detent 31" on the resetting rod 3! which, due to the action of the released spring 3'4, is rapidly pushed out a given length through the wall of the actuating apparatus. Since the engagement between the resetting rod 3i and the slide 23 thereby remains active (at detent 31'), the slide is pulled back to its initial position at the front end of the actuating apparatus (at the left according to Figs. 8 and 9).

The push-button 32 and the portion of the resetting rod 3! projecting beyond the front wall of the actuating apparatus indicate that the mechanism again must be tensioned. The single step required is thus to press the resetting rod 3| in engagement with the latch member 33 in order to restore the slide '23 after a further week has elapsed. In general, however, the operator will hardly find an opportunity immediately to depress the resetting rod 31 after it has been launched out beyond the face of the actuating apparatus, and in order still to allow the timing cylinder to advance the slide 23 without being obstructed due to presence of the detent 3| on the resetting rod, this rod should be raised out of engagement with the slide after the latter has been homed. To this end the transverse beam 24 is provided with a stop pin 39 which in cooperation with the oblique portion 3! of rod Si is raising the rod 31 at the termination of its return motion.

The balls 2 l, which are adapted to be jammed into the grooves 29 of the timing cylinder, are delivered from a ball magazine 4| at the top of the slide 23 (Figs. 6 and 9). The bottom of this magazine is slanting towards one end of the 'slidethe right end according to Fig. 9where a vertical outlet 42 (Figs. 4 and 6) is provided for the individual balls. This outlet emerges in a horizontal rectangular guide aperture 43 (Fig. 9) in which is axially movable a rectangular guide envelope 44, in which a plunger 45 (Figs. 6 and is mounted so as to be axially displaced for feeding one ball at a time to the grooves of the timing cylinder. In order that no balls spontaneously may fall out from the space in front of the plunger 45 as defined by the guide envelope 44, a weak spring arrester 46 is provided in the manner indicated in Fig. 10.

The plunger 45 is operated manually by means of a manipulation knob 41 (Figs. 1 and 5) through a mechanism now to be described. Said manipulation knob 47 and its supporting shaft 48 are rotatively (and axially movably) mounted in the front wall of the apparatus and in a bearing block 49 which is fixed on the bottom of box I. The shaft 43 carries a sleeve 50 which is locked against rotation (but axially movable) and which supports an upwards pointing projection 5|. This projection is linked by a pullrod 52 to a substantially vertical lever 53 in form of a plate or metal slab. The lower end of this lever-plate is pivotally mounted at 54 in the frame 2, while its upper end under the action of a torsional spring 55 resiliently abuts on that portion of frame 2 which is located behind the plunger 45. Turning of the manipulation knob in the clock-wise direction a viewed in Fig. l (counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 6) causes the lever-plate 53 to act upon the rear end of the connecting rod 45 of plunger 45, so that this plunger 45 is forced forward.

The plunger 45 cooperates with the guide envelope 44 through a comparatively rigid spring 51 (Figs. 6 and 10), e. g. a piano cord, which is bent substantially to U-shaped configuration with one end (the right in Fig. 6) anchored in the connecting rod 45' and the other end formed like an eyelet freely encompassing said connecting rod and abutting against the rear end of the guide envelope 44. Hence, the lunger 45 and the guide envelope 44 are initially advanced as one unit, until the front end of the guide envelope comes to rest against the timing cylinder, in which moment the resistibility of spring 5'! is overcome with the result that the plunger 45 is advanced additionally relative to the guide envelope 44, which now acts as the guiding member for the ball in front of the plunger 45, until this ball has been squeezed into the groove proper of the timing cylinder. Thence the guide envelope and the plunger are reset to normal position by a restoring spring 58, the one end of which is attached to the rear end of envelope 44, while its opposite end is fixed on the slide 23 (Fig. 10). It is anticipated that spring 58 is considerably weaker than spring 57.

The slide 23 is adapted to occupy various different positions along the timing cylinder, these positions depending upon the date or day and its anterneridian or post meridian hours, respectively. The position of the slide is indicated by means of a longitudinal scale 60 (Figs. 4 and 6) attached thereto and having fourteen narrow rectangles marked thereon. The first rectangle (as reckoned from below in Fig. 4) is designated Mond, on a white background, for example, and denotes the antemeridian hours of the first day which may be Monday. The second rectangle is likewise designated Mond, e. g. on a black bottom, and denotes the post meridian hours of said first day. The same relates to the succeeding rectangles which are marked in pair as Tuesd, Wednesd, Thursd, Frid, Saturd and Sund, respectively. A stationary cover plate 5! with an indexing aperture 62 provided therein (see also Fig. 3) is overlaying the scale 60 and secured in the frame 2, for instance. The plate Bi and its aperture 62 are rendered visible through a window 53 provided in the corresponding lateral wall of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 also visualizes the Sund designated rectangle as displayed in the aperture 62. Moreover, the timing cylinder and its grooves may readily be observed through'the window 63.

In order to remove the balls from the rooves 20 of the timing cylinder, a scraper member 65 (see Figs. 6 and 8 as well as Fig. 3) is disposed alongside the timing cylinder just above the ball magazine M, which scraper member carries as many fingers as grooves are provided on the timing cylinder, each of these fingers occupies a position exactly opposite its corresponding groove 283. The scraper member 65 is pivotally mounted by means of a spindle extending in parallel "with the timing cylinder between a support 6! of the cover plate 6| and the frame 2, s-aidspindle being fitted with a tilt-knob 68 accessible from the rear of the actuating apparatus. The scraper member is made of a sheet-metal strip bent to cupsh'aped configuration and having said fingers formed by stamping at its edge facing the timing cylinder. The bottom of this scraper member has an 'o rific 66, and immediately under this orifice a corresponding orifice 69 is provided in the cover plate 6!. The relative positions of the orifices 66, 69 are shown in Figs. 4. and 8. It may be derived from the drawing that the orifices 56, so, instead of being aligned, are slightly displaced with respect of each other in their positions shown, so that the balls are prevented from escaping the ball nia'gw zine even if the apparatus should be turned up and down. The fingers of the scraper member 65 may be tilted in engagement with the grooves 26 of the timing cylinder, whereupon the tim ing cylinder may be rotated clockwise (in opposition to the direction indicated by the arrow P in Fig. 6) by turning therotary knob ll, whereby all balls on the timing cylinder are loosened and thus caused to drop down into the cup-shaped scraper member for further conveyance to the ball magazine on account of the present aligned relation of the two orifices t, 59. Spring looking means may be provided for both. extreme positions (angular positions) of the scraper member but no such means being illustrated as they do not form part of the invention and may easily be provided by each one skilled in the art. Prior to the disclosure of the electrical outfit oi the actuating apparatus it is deemed convenient briefly to elucidate the manner according to which the above described and chiefly mechanical arrangements may be used and how they operate. The slide 23 is assumed to occupy its initial position. (at the top according to Fig. 4); Then, by means of the rotary knob i l, the timing cylinder may be turned counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. '2 (in the direction indicated by the arrow P in Fig. 6) until the index it opposes the time designation on scale 15 according to which the first switching procedure shall take place. In this position of the timing cylinder the rotary knob 41 is turned clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, whereby a contact ball is jammed into the first groove of the timing cylinder at the corresponding circumferential point thereof. It is thus possible by sequentially turning the knob H in accordance with the corresponding time designation and by recurrent manipulations of the rotary knob 41 to fix one ball after the other in accordance with the entire number of switching instants desirable in the course of one week. Thereafter, when the timing cylinder is under the action of the clock-work, the counter-contact 22 on the slide 23 will accordingly make contact with one ball after the other in their positions on the timing cylinder.

The circuit diagram according to Fig. 13 shows the electrical outfit of the actuating apparatus. The timing cylinder 5 of electrically conducting material is directly connected to the metallic shelf of the actuating apparatus, to which is use 8 connected the negative terminal of a battery 13. Aconduct'or i! interconnects the counter-contact 22 and one end of a relay winding 12, the opposite end of which is associated with a contact point '13 with which the break contact i l on the relay armature '15 makes contact in the back-position (normal position) of the latter. A conductor it connects this break contact 74 with the positive terminal of the battery B. The armature 75 which is pivoted at I? carries a mercury switch 18 for the operating circuit, the two conductors of which, i. e. i9, 86, are extended through the box of the apparatus as indicated at I, in form of a connecting cord (flex) 8! which is terminated by a plug-in device 82 for insertion into a wall socket. One of said conductors, i. e. conductor 89, is provided with and connected to an outlet contact sleeve 33 projecting through an opening in the rear wall of the apparatus and adapted to receive the plug 8 terminating the connecting cord of an apparatus to be controlled, e. g. the cord of a radio set or an electric heating device.

At each occasion when a contact ball 28 on the timing cylinder makes contact with the countercontact 22, a circuit is established through the relay winding l2, whereby the armature i5 is attracted and the operating circuit 79, 3%? is closed in the mercury switch it when tilted out of the position shown, so that the controlled apparatus is switched in circuit. The path through the relay winding is simultaneously opened at E3, M in order to avoid undue consumption of battery energy. Moreover, the battery may manually be switched in circuit and disconnected by means of a switch member 85 forming part of the path through the relay winding, so that the battery may be disconnected when the apparatus is not in use. In order to allow the controlled appa" ratus to be switched in circuit by hand independently of the timing cylinder, the actuating cir=- cuit, in which the relay winding and the battery are involved, is connected to a normally open shunt path 37 across the timing cylinder and the counter-contact. This shunt path, moreover, is connected to the metallic rack of the apparatus and includes a contact point which may be closed, when desired, by means of a switch 88 suitably in form of a push-button. Disconnection of the controlled apparatus at the end of a given period of time may be achieved by depressing the manually actuated mechanical member 89 which is adapted mechanically to restore to normal the relay armature "l5 and the mercury switch 18 fixed thereon. However, it is also possible to utilize a member which is adjustably fitted on the timing cylinder for restoring the relay armature to its position of rest after the elapse of a predetermined period of time. Circuit breaking means of this nature are disclosed hereinafter subsequent to the more detailed explanation of the electrical outfit forming part of the actuating apparatus per se.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 7, the battery B may be an ordinary pocket-lamp battery or cell. Its negative terminal strip abuts on a connector member 9| attached to the frame 2, while its positive terminal strip is connected to the break contact is of the relay assembly. The conductors forming part of the control circuit are not shown in Figs. 1-12, but their provision will be readily understood by comparison with Fig. 13. The relay assembly parts are shown particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The relay armature i5 is made up of a sheet-metal strip which is bent to the, configuration of an inverted U and having its limb projecting downwards and pivotally mounted at I! in the U-shaped relay frame 93. The top face of the relay armature I5 supports a resilient holder 95 for the mercury switch '58 incorporating the conductor pair 19, 80 of the operating circuit in form of a cord. Adjacent the end where the conductors i9, 88 enter the mercury switch TS, the relay armature I5 is formed with an integral lateral projection 95, the downwards pointing flange of which presents an inclined surface 93 for co-operation with a corresponding oblique surface 91 of a leaf spring 98 which is secured to the frame 2. This leaf spring may be actuated by the push-button 89 in such a manner that the relay armature i5 is set to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 13 in response to this push-button 89 in its depressed state. The leaf spring 98 also constitutes the resetting means for the push-button 89.

The switch 85 for connecting and disconnecting the battery is suitably operated by using the contact ball positioning knob 4'! (Fig. 5) which just by this reason is made axially movable. The shaft 48 carries at its end projecting beyond the bearing block 59 a sleeve IIH of insulating material with a metal ring 86 provided therein for eo-oper'ation with two contact springs H, and constitutes accordingly the movable contact element of said switch. The contact springs I I are fixed on a slab I02 of insulating material. contact ring 85 is formed with a circumferential channel which is adapted to receive the ends of contact springs 'II' so as to provide a resilient latch for the axially movable shaft .3 when depressed by means of the knob 41. It is thus obvious that the knob 4'! always has to be depressed when the actuating apparatus is in use, in order to keep the switch 86 closed. With the knob 41 in its outermost position the Contact springs l i rest in a groove formed in a projection of the insulating sleeve It I, in which case the switch 85 is open.

The switch 88 for manually connecting the controlled apparatus in circuit by closing the shunt path 81 is disposed particularly as shown in Fig. 5. A contact spring I04 associated with one of the contact springs l I and fixed on a slab I05 of insulating material on the frame 2 may be operated by the push-button 88 and thus caused to engage a contact member I96 attached to the frame 2. It is thereby possible by depressing the push-button 88 to apply a current impulse through the relay winding 12 and, hence, to connect the controlled apparatus in circuit by the aid of the mercury switch 78. Also in this case a manual disconnection of the controlled apparatus may be accomplished by means of the push-button 89.

The contrivance for automatically disconnecting the controlled apparatus at the termination of a given adjustable period of time is illustrated and set forth with particular reference to Figs. 4 and 12. The essential actuating member is a ring I01 which is angularly adjustable on the timing cylinder and provided with a radial projection in form of a pin I08 and an axial projection in the shape of a plate IBM. The plate 39a carries a hinged latch or clip member IllSb,

the apex of which constitutes an index I 09. The

ring I? is adjustable to any arbitrary angular position relative to the timing cylinder by reference to the time scale I on the rotary knob II and said index 159' on the clip member I991), and may be locked in any desired position by clamping "the clip member IIiBb against the rim of the rotary knob II, as shown in the drawing,

The

when an automatic disconnection is desirable, while the clip member I691) otherwise will be swung away from the vicinity of said rim. In order to avoid that the ring follows the movement of the timing cylinder under the action of the clock-work, a stationary stop pin III) is provided at the rear wall. This in obstructs movement of the ring Illl due to the fact that the radially projecting portion of the clip member I 892) comes to rest on said pin III).

The pin I 33 is adapted to actuate the relay armature through a lever assembly or similar system, when the ring I U1 is locked to the timing cylinder by means of the clip member Iililb. In the embodiment illustrated, a crank-lever III with two arms is pivoted in two stationary bearings II 2 secured to the frame 2. One of these lever arms co-operates with the pin I08 of the timing cylinder ring IQ'I, while the other lever arm is adapted to co-operate with an upwards projecting arm H3 on the relay armature 75 in such a manner, that the relay armature becomes tilted from its attracted position (Fig. 12) to its released or normal position (Figs. 6 and 13) when the pin I98 engages the first-mentioned arm.

The ring It! may be set subseouent to each finally accomplished connection of the controlled apparatus, if an automatic disconnection is desired at the termination of a given period of time, and this is particularly advantageous in cases when the controll d ap aratus is an electric water heater or similar heating device. However, the ring may also be set in advance for one selecte switching operation for a 12 hour period. It is obvious that the ring Iii! and its associated implemerits may be omitted if the actuating apparatus is not intended to perform automatic disconnection of the controlled ap aratus.

The actuating apparatus may obviously also be em loyed for producing an acoustic signal at predetermined instants if the relay armature be arran ed to initiate any arbitrarily chosen acoustic signal emitter. Such an arrangement is disclosed in the exemplary embodiment set forth, simply by providing the relay armature I5 with an upwards extending arm H3, the upper end of which carries a clapper I I4 for co-ooeration with a sound emitter H5. It will be clear that this signal emitter produces an attention signal of short duration at the circuit closing instant, but signalling devices producing acoustic signals of longer persistence, such as a common trembler bell. may also be employed.

The connecting cord SI and the outlet socket B3 are arranged in oneand the same wall of the box (the rear wall) which also supports the timing cylinder rotary knob II with its time scale I5 thereon and the tilt-knob 63 for the scraper member 65. The contact ball positioning rotary knob 41 as well as the push-buttons 89, 88 and 32 for restoring the relay armature by hand, for manually closing the actuating circuit, and for manually straining the resetting spring, respectively, have been arranged on the opposite wall ratus according to this invention may be set in advance so as to accomplish a great number of switching operations in the course of one week (or during still longer time intervals, if the apparatus is accordingly designed). If no changes are needed from one week to another, only the resetting spring requires renewed straining at the end of each week, and this is the sole manual operation required, e. g. in the. course of' one year or even still longer. The provision of two com,- plete revolutions of the timing cylinder for each twenty-four hour periods allows, in addition to a more precise setting, also the application of an ordinary clock dial to the rotary knob of the timing cylinder, since, as a matter of fact, this cylinder rotates with the speed of the hour-hand. All manually operated knobs and push-buttons are accessible from the exterior of the box, while the latter is wholly closed in all other respects.

In general, there will scarcely be any need for modifying the setting of the actuating apparatus, but if such modification should be required, this may readily be accomplished by removing the contact balls from their positions on the timing cylinder and then to squeeze the balls into revised positions-while the timing cylinder successively is set in accordance with the new switching instants wanted, while the time proper is indicated by means of the clock dial on the rotary knob of the timing cylinder and the day is rendered visible on the day indicating scale through the window in one of the lateral walls of the actuating apparatus.

Although the foregoing description of one exemplary embodiment of this invention relates to a self -contained actuating apparatus, it will readily be understood that the actuating apparatus according to the invention likewise may be combined with the controlled apparatus so as to form a single unit, e. g. be mounted in the box of a radio set, if such controlled apparatus is a radio receiver, for instance.

A modification of this type is illustrated in Fig.

14. It is understood that the operating circuitunder the control of the relay winding is associated with the connecting cord of the radio set (not shown in Fig. 14) and that the various rotary knobs and push-buttons are attached to the walls of the radio set, preferably to the front wall.

In Fig. 14, the reference numerals ll, 32, M, cs, as, 38 and 89 desi nate the same elements, as in Figs. 1-12. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the pushbutton 32 for straining the resetting spring has been provided on the same side as the further manipulation means. The reference numeral lit in Fig. 14 denotes the control means of the radio set.

Also the radio set may be provided with a specific outlet contact socket which corresponds to the outlet socket B3 of the actuating apparatus shown in Figs. 1-12, so that an electric water heater or the like may be connected thereto.

The top surface of the actuating apparatus may be provided with a sheet of such known material that it will be possible to write on it by means of a pencil or stylus for making notations relating to the instants to which the actuating apparatus has been set. Alternatively, a notation device comprising a sliding material (a sliding sheet or a sliding strip capable of receiving notations made by pencil or stylus) of well-known type may be provided for the same purpose beneath th apparatus.

As mentioned in the foregoing, the timing cylinder with the contact balls thereon may, however, be observed through the Window in one of the lateral walls, whereby the positions of theballs and, accordingly, also the corresponding switching instants, may be defined by the aid of an annular clock dial scale located at the inner end of the timing cylinder and a day scale on the scraper member. Such provisions have 12 not been illustrated as: beingeasyto design by each one skilled in the art.

An incandescent. lamp may be arranged in the box in any suitable location so as to form part of the operating circuit for. illuminating the interior of the actuating apparatus.

What I claim. is;

1. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cy1- inder composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, cylinder having a peripherial groove formed therein, extending around said cylinder, a com tact ball to be fastened jammingly in said groove, in different positions along the periphery in accordance with the instants of any desired. switching operation... and a counter-contact in a position allowing contact ball jammed into said groove, to, engage said counter-contact in: dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

2. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, com-- prising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder, composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel peripherial grooves formed therein, extending around said cylinder, contact ball to be fastened jammingly in the same, in different, positions along the periphery in correspondence with the instants of any desired switchin Operation, and a count-en contact movable step by step to a position oppo site the different grooves in accordance with the date of any desired switching operation, for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

3. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination a rotative timing cylinder, composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel peripherial grooves formed therein extending around the same, contact balls to be fastened jammin y in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one groove for each 12-hour period, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaccable step by step in response to the, rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves, and a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves to engage said counter=contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

i. A tim =controlled actuatin appa u f per-form ng electric switching perat ons, c l pr sins, in combination, a rctative tim n cy inder, composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder h v n a plurality of para lel groov formed therein extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened jammingly in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one roove for each period of a plurality of time periods, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaceable step by step in response to the rotation of said cylind r, each step corr pondin to the interspace between the individual grooves, a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder, a magazine for contact balls, provided on said slide, and hand-operated means for inserting contact balls into the grooves of said cylinder.

5. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder, composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein, extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened jammingly in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one groove for each period of a plurality of time periods, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaceable step by step in response to the rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves. a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder, a magazine for contact balls, provided on said slide, a handoperated plunger for inserting contact balls into the grooves of said cylinder, and a guide envelope for said plunger, which guide envelope is mounted slidably in said slide for advancement for engagement with said cylinder before said plunger effectively has inserted a ball into a groove of said cylinder.

6. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder, composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened jammingly in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one groove for each period of a plurality of time periods, a slide movable in parall l with said cylinder and being displaceable step by step in response to the rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves, a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder, a magazine for contact balls, provided on slide, a plunger for inserting contact balls into the grooves of said cylinder, a guide envelope for said plunger, which guide envelope is mounted slidably in said slide for advancement into engagement with said cylinder before said plunger effectively has inserted a ball into a groove of said cylinder, a resetting spring acting upon said guide envelope, a spring member interconnecting said plunger and said guide envelope, said spring member being stronger than is the resetting spring, a lever for advancing said plunger and guide envelope, and means for manual operation of said lever.

'7. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performin electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein, extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened J'ammingly in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery of the cylinder corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one groove for each period of a plurality of time periods, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaceable step by step in response to the rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves, a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder, a magazine for contact balls, provided on said slide, a hand-operated plunger for inserting contact balls into the grooves of said cylinder, a scraper member for removing balls from said cylinder, which scraper member is mounted alongside said cylinder and directly above said ball magazine, scraper fingers, formed on said scraper member in correspondence with the grooves of said cylinder, means on said scraper member for conveying the removed balls to said ball magazine, and means for manual operation of said scraper member.

8. A time-control1ed actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder composed of an electrically conducting ma.- terial at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein, extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened jammingly in the said grooves, in difierent positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one groove for each period of a plurality of time periods, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaceable step by step in response to the re tation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves. a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder, a magazine for contact balls, provided on said slide, a handoperated plunger for inserting contact balls into the grooves of said cylinder, a resetting rod for said slide, a spring for causing said rod to reset said slide from its extreme advance position when tensioned, and means for straining said spring each time said slide has occupied said extreme position.

9. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein, extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened jammingly in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one gIOOVe for each period of a plurality of time periods, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaceable step by step in response to the rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the inter-space between the individual grooves, a counter-contact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder, a magazine for contact balls, provided on said slide, a handoperated plunger for inserting contact balls into thegrooves of said cylinder, a resetting rod for said slide, a spring for causing said rod to reset said slide from its extreme advance position when tensioned, means for straining said spring each time said slide has occupied said extreme position, and a stationary stop member in a position for displacing said resetting rod out of engagement with said slide at the termination of its return motion, for allowing said slide im mediately to start a new advance stroke under the action of said timing cylinder.

10. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, com-- prising, in combination, a clock-work having an hour-hand spindle, a shaft mounted coaxially with said spindle, a cylinder mounted rotatively on said shaft and composed of an electrically conducting material at least in its periperial zone, means for coupling said shaft with said cylinder, means on said cylinder for manual rotation of the same, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel peripherial grooves formed therein extending around said cylinder, contact balls to be fastened jammingly in the same, in different positions along the periphery corresponding to the instants of any desired switching operation, there being one groove for each 12- hour period, a slide movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displaoeable step by step in response to the rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves, and a countercontact mounted on said slide for allowing contact balls to be jammed into said grooves, to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

11. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a clockwork having an hour-hand spindle, a shaft coupled with said spindle, a cylinder mounted rotatively on said shaft and being composed of a metallic material at least in its peripherial zone, means for coupling said shaft with said cylinder, means on said cylinder for manual rotation of the same, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel peripherial grooves formed therein, which grooves extend around the cylinder, a slice movable in parallel with said cylinder and being displacealole step by step in response to the rotation of said cylinder, each step corresponding to the interspace between the individual grooves, and contact means mounted on said slide to be actuated in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

12. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, com: prising, incombination, a clockwork having an hour-hand spindle, a shaft coupled with said spindlaa cylinder mounted rotatlvely on said shaft and being composed of a metallic material at least in its peripheriai zone, means for coupling said shaft with said cylinder, means on said cylinder for manual rotation of the same, said cylinder having a plurality of parallel peripherial grooves formed therein, which grooves extend around the cylinder and contact-controlling balls for jamming engagement in said groove in different positions along the periphery in accordance with the instants. of any desired switching operation.

13. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a clock-work having an hour-hand spindle, a shaft coupled with said spindle, a cylinder mounted rotatively on said shaft and being composed of a metallic material at least in its peripherial zone, means for coupling said shaft with said cylinder, means on said cylinder for manual rotation of the same, said cylinder having a plurality of peripherial grooves being formed therein which extend around the cylinder, contact ball for jamming engagement in said grooves, in. different positions along the periphery of the cylinder in accordance with the instants of any desired switching operation, and a counter-contact in a position allowing contact balls jammed into said grooves to engage said counter-contact in dependence upon the rotation of said cylinder.

14. A time-controlled actuating apparatus for performing electric switching operations, comprising, in combination, a rotative timing cylinder composed of a metallic material at least in its peripherial zone, said cylinder having a plurality of peripherial grooves, formed therein, which extend around the cylinder, and contact controlling balls for jamming engagement in said grooves, in different positions along the periphery in accordance with the instants of any desired switching operation. h

STURE JOHN VERNER CRTENBLAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l ,051,765 Rodkey et al. Jan. 28, 1913 1,771,905 Uher, Jr. July 29, 1930 2,168,662 Babcock Aug. 3, 1939 

